Kukah: Nigerian Presidents Often Assume Office Ill-Prepared, Says Tinubu Faces Leadership Challenges

Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, says almost all Nigerian presidents came into power through unpredictable circumstances.

Kukah spoke in Abuja on Sunday while delivering the keynote speech at the fourth Amaka Ndoma-Egba memorial lecture, ‘Leaders of tomorrow: Creating lasting change in a complex world’.

The Catholic Bishop noted that despite President Bola Tinubu’s claim of being prepared, he still struggles to lead the country.

Kukah added that Nigerian leaders, both past and present, lack adequate knowledge and preparation to lead a country.

“If we look at Nigeria’s leadership journey, you will find that almost every leader who came to power did so by accident,” Kukah said.

“President Tinubu, despite claiming to be prepared for the role, is clearly struggling. We are still trying to find our footing.

“He took over from Buhari, who had already disengaged from governance. Buhari succeeded Jonathan, a man who never envisioned himself as president but was thrust into leadership due to circumstances.

“Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, who planned to return to teaching after his governorship.

“Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president.

“Before that, Obasanjo replaced Abacha, who was poised to rule indefinitely until nature intervened.

“Abacha followed Shonekan, a business executive abruptly drafted to lead the country. The cycle is evident, and the missing link in all of this is knowledge and preparation.”